Dan Mitcheff arrived at West Point in the summer of 2011 after serving as a volunteer coach with the Golden Pride Wrestling Club in Kent, Ohio, in 2010-11. His duties with Golden Pride included training high school and middle school athletes and organizing practices.

The Ohio native previously worked for six summers with Burnett Trained Wrestling as a camp counselor. During his time with Burnett, Mitcheff assisted with teaching proper technique and fundamentals.

Mitcheff was a two-time Mid-American Conference (MAC) champion during his standout collegiate wrestling career at Kent State University. The four-time NCAA qualifier capped his career by earning All-America honors as a senior in 2010.

Mitcheff was twice named the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the MAC Tournament, earning the honor as both a junior and senior. A four-time MAC placewinner, Mitcheff was named MAC Wrestler of the Year following his outstanding senior season.

Mitcheff, who graduated from Kent State with a bachelor's degree in Human Movement Studies in 2010, starred on the mat during his high school days as well. He was the OHSAA Division I Wrestling State Champion in 2005 while wrestling for Elyria High School in Elyria, Ohio. He also earned USA Junior National Freestyle All-America accolades in 2005 following a third-place finish at the championships.